Net giraffes and Brazzameer cats festively welcomed to ZooParc Overloon!

The arrival of net giraffes and Brazzamer cats to ZooParc Overloon was festively celebrated this afternoon during the opening of the new combination enclosure. Three giraffes and four Brazzamer cats together share a spacious plain and an African-themed indoor enclosure in the Ngorongoro area. It is unique for these animals to share an enclosure together. Not only is this fun for visitors to see, but such an enclosure also provides positive behavioral enrichment for the animals.

Karel van Soest, mayor of Boxmeer, had the honor of opening the new giraffe and Brazzameer cat enclosure this afternoon, together with branch manager Leentje Lips. More than 500 annual pass holders of ZooParc Overloon came to take a look at the festive opening. Many children came with a self-made giraffe mask, which they had previously received at home. They could take their first look at the stranded bus at the edge of the large plain and come face to face with the giraffes and Brazzameer cats in the indoor enclosure.

Photo left: Karel van Soest (Mayor of Boxmeer) and Leentje Lips (ZooParc Overloon branch manager) at the giraffes' new indoor enclosure.
Photo right: visitors admire the giraffes at eye level.

Net giraffes
Net giraffes are recognizable by their net-like spotting pattern. This spotting pattern serves as camouflage and is unique to each animal. The fur shows how old the giraffe is: the older the animal, the darker the fur. Giraffes in the wild are unfortunately threatened. This is mainly due to poaching, wars and loss of habitat. With the arrival of the giraffes, ZooParc Overloon sees a great opportunity to give more attention to the threat of giraffes in nature. That is why employees have already been working over the past few months to raise money forStichting Wildlife, which supports the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) with this. During the opening, a check was already handed over for almost €3000.

Brazzameer cats
Nowhere else in the Netherlands can visitors admire the extraordinary Brazzameer cats. These monkeys can be recognized by the chestnut-colored stripe on their heads and males by their long white beards. They often live in small groups of about five to 30 conspecifics. In addition, they are very loyal animals, as males and females are the only vervet monkeys to stay together for their entire lives after mating!